Outdoor sign



Sept. 15, 1936.

w. W. PATTERSON OUTDOOR S IGN Filed Dec. 14, 1935 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTDOOR SIGN Ward W. Patterson, Webster Groves, Mo. Application December 14, 1935, serial No. 54,380 401mm. 01; 40-138)l This invention relates to outdoor signs, such as curb and highway signs.

Outdoor signs are adversely affected by wind and this is especially true of portable curb signs, in which case wind is liable to tip them over. In the case of highway signs placed in exposed position the wind will whip them until they are destroyed.

An object of this invention is to provide a sign of this character, yielding with the wind, which is simple in construction and durable in service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of the character described employing a metal plate for display purposes and with means whereby the plate may be removed readily and another placed in position.

Incidentally by supplying a sign of the character described increased display value is afforded. The sign is such that it is placed in motion by the wind, this attracting more attention than a stationary sign.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the following detail description and the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sign embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail partly in section showing a portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

The device of the invention includes a stationary frame or base and a sign supporting frame pivotally supported on and by the stationary frame. As specifically illustrated in the drawing, the stationary frame includes a pair of uprights which are preferably secured to a cross member 2. This may be done by welding. A bottom element to which the cross member or bar 2 may be secured includes a ring 3 and cross bars 4, welded to the ring and to each other. In order that the device may be shipped in knock-down condition the bar 2 is preferably fastened by screws or bolts 5. This enables the sign to be shipped in at condition and to be readily assembled for use.

The uprights l at their upper ends are tied together (as best shown in Fig. 2) by a shaft or bolt 6 and spaced apart by a sleeve l, about the shaft 6 and abutting the inner edges of the uprights l.

The sign supporting frame includes a pair of parallel bars 8 spaced from each other a substantial distance and pivotally mounted on the sleeve 1. 'Ihey are a part of a rigid frame, rectangular in form, beingV the two side members thereof. At their lower end they are rigidly secured together in spaced relationship. As specically shown in the drawing, this is accomplished by Welding weights 9 to the bars 8 at their bottom. The upper ends of the members or bars 8 are rigidlysecured, preferably by welding, to a frame member il D which supports `a plate or disc Il having a display surface. As speccally shown vthe member l is a channel strip bent in circular form tc engage the periphery of the circular disc -I l. The bars 8 are held together at their upper ends and the channel member I Il is held in closed position to engage the disc Il by a tie rod or bolt l2. Guiding lugs i 3 are welded to Or formed integral with the channel member Ii) and have holes through which the bolt or rod l2 extends.

It will now be seen that when the bolt l2 is tightened to hold the disc ll in the channel l0 a rigid rectangular frame is provided including the longitudinal parallel bars 8 Which, as previously described, are secured at their bottom by the weights S welded to them.

'I'he bars 8 are spaced from the uprights l by bushings i@ on the sleeve l, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Additional holes l may be placed in the bars 8 to accommodate the sleeve 'l so that the sign supporting frame may be selectively mounted on the base, depending upon the wind conditions of the locality in which thesign is placed.

The arrangement is such that the weights 9 will normally hold the sign and its frame in an upright or vertical position, but the sign Will catch the wind and under ordinary conditions will swing gently tc and fro as a pendulum. Under severe weather conditions the movement will be more violent, but because the sign is yielding it will not have a tendency to tip over as have signs which are rigidly secured to a portable base. The specic arrangement, in which the sign supporting frame has a rigid rectangular portion with side members 8 mounted on a shaft, prevents side sway and long life and substantial service are provided.

'I'he particular mounting of the sign plate Il in the frame is not essential but this novel arrangement provides convenient means for displacing one sign plate with another. To make this displacement the sign frame is removed from the uprights by removing the bolt 6. Y The bolt I2 is then loosened and the resiliency of the frame permits it to be sprung suiciently to take out the sign plate Il and replace it with another.

The particular construction of the base, which as shown includes the ring 3 and cross bars 4, is not essential since any form of bottom may be provided, or the uprights l may be permanently secured in the ground.

The essential features of the invention are pointed out in the Vappended claims and it Will be stationary frame, the combination including a pair of uprights comprising a part of the stationary frame, a shaft connecting said uprights near the top thereof, a sleeve about said shaftV and engaging the inner edges of the uprights, a pair of bars comprising a part of said sign supporting frame journalled on said sleeve, and means for spacing said bars from the uprights comprising bushings on the sleeve between the bars and the uprights.

2. A sign comprising a plate having a display surface, a frame for said plate, a pair of parallel bars .spaced from each other secured at their top to said frame and rigidly secured together in spaced relationship at their bottom, a pair of upright supporting members, a shaft carried by said members and pvotally supporting said parallel bars between said members, and a weight secured at the bottom of said bars.Y

3. A sign comprising a plate having a display surface, a channel frame member about the periphery of said plate, a pair of parallel bars spaced from each other secured at their top to said channel member near the ends thereof respectively and rigidly secured together in spaced relationship at their bottom, a clamping member positioned and adapted to hold the ends of said channel member towards each other, a pair of upright supporting members, a shaft carried by said members and pivotally supporting said parallel bars between said members, and a weight secured at the bottom of said bars.

4. A sign comprising a plate having a display surface, a channel member about the periphery ci said plat-e, a pair of parallel bars spaced from each other, secured at their top to said channel member near the ends thereof respectively and rigidly secured together in spaced relationship at their bottom, a bolt engaging said bars near their top to hold the ends of said channel members towards each other and to tie -said bars together in rigid relationship, a pair of uprights, a shaft carm ried by the uprights and pivotally supporting said parallel bars between said members, and a weight secured at the bottom of said bars.V

WARD W. PATTERSON. Y 

